Environmental Clearance for Jaitapur Nuclear Power Complex

 

Sri Jairam Ramesh, Minister for Environment & Forests , GOI   making public the detailed reasoning for granting Environmental Clearance (E.C ) in a matter of 80 days to Jaitapur Nuclear Power Complex ( 6 x1650 MW) of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), justified saying that it was essential to facilitate NPCIL and AREVA to sign General Framework Agreement as well as Works Agreement very soon and the Final Contracts in the first half of 2011. In other words, to meet the target date for the scheduled visit of the French President in the first week of December.

 

The E.C has been granted, stipulating 35 conditions, without waiting for "Carrying Capacity" and "Cumulative Impact Assessment" Studies, which are considered essential for the area which is considered to be ecologically sensitive and even without finalizing the project design and approval by AERB. It is evident, the entire EIA Process for Jaitapur NP Complex of NPCIL, is nothing but going through a formality / ritual, about a predetermined project, marginalizing the environmental & safety considerations and the public opinion.

 

 Role of Environment Ministry 

 

The Minister tried to absolve the obligation of his Ministry by saying that he is not the competent authority to pass judgment on matters related to the Need, Economics and Safety of Nuclear Power Plants. But the Ministry entrusted with the task of enforcing The Environment Protection Act, cannot absolve of its responsibility to prevent Environmental Pollution from Nuclear Power Complexes and allied activities, namely  radiation discharges in excess of safe limits stipulated by AERB, into Water, Air & Land including the Food-chain.

 

The economic development may have environmental impacts but the economic impacts of the environmental problems are also significant. Therefore, irrespective of competency of authorities concerned regarding Nuclear Power Projects, the EIA Process should have clearly identified and characterized the critical environmental consequences and risks of the Jaitapur NPP, so that the public can farm a view about environmental acceptability of the project.

 

Nuclear Energy Cleaner?

 

 While pleading that his Ministry is not the competent authority to pass judgment on matters related to the Need, Economics and Safety of Nuclear Power Plants, the Minister advocated that  from environmental point of view, Nuclear Energy is cleaner option than Coal.

 

The fact is, "It takes energy to make energy"- even Nuclear Energy. Although a Nuclear power plant itself releases no carbon dioxide, the production of nuclear electricity, depends upon a vast complex and hidden industrial infrastructure (Nuclear Fuel Cycle- very Expensive, Sophisticated and Dangerous Way to Boil Water) is the intensive user of Fossil Fuel -the kind of energy the Nuclear power is touted as replacing -with the concurrent production of Carbon Dioxide.         

Far from being an answer to the problem of Emissions & Climate Change, Nuclear Power would be a miss-allocation of resources, making things worse by diverting funds away from better and cheaper alternatives. We get six times the reductions in CO2, by investing in Energy-Efficiency, rather than Nuclear Power and much faster too.

 

Must Energy Consumption Rise in Lockstep with Economic Growth?

The Minister also emphasized the need for increase of Electricity generating capacity at about 7% per year to sustain real Annual GDP growth rate of 9 % per year. For increasing the share of Nuclear energy in the fuel mix, its increase of 6% by 2020 and 13% by 2030, from the existing 2.9% of the total generating capacity, has been advocated.

 Linking energy consumption / supply with the growth rate, embodied the Myth that economic vitality requires steadily increasing energy consumption. The Nation's Energy Security depends on efficient use of Energy Services that maximize economic competitiveness and minimize environmental degradation / impacts. 

 

The per capita energy consumption of energy in India is estimated to be far behind  USA,  Japan, and the Asia average and the  energy intensity (energy consumption per unit of GDP),  is high compared to Japan, the USA, and Asia as a whole. This indicates inefficient use of energy in India, with a substantial scope for energy savings, even at lower per capita consumption.

                                                        

 It is nothing but suicidal trying to target for higher per capita consumption of energy, to sustain annual GDP growth rate, instead of trying to improve efficiency and cutting down the energy intensity, through technological innovations, which are cost effective and eco-friendly

 

Conclusion

 

 Historically disputes between Industry, Governments and Community are always Unequal and Unfair, because people, who have been damaged by irresponsible industries, almost never have the expertise or funding to conduct their own studies and the Governments invariably support this mindless damage by industries in the name of GDP Growth, which is not Inclusive.   

 

At this time, when our National and State Leaderships are advocating Nuclear Power for Energy Security & Sustainable Development, it is important that the facts are made known to the public and that legitimate arguments against & for Nuclear Power are heard and given due consideration, before opting for Nuclear Power, which doesn't seem to add up Economically, Environmentally or Socially and is neither the answer to modern energy problems nor a panacea for Climate Change challenges.

 

 The Human beings are at the center of concerns for Sustainable Development and the Human beings are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature, keeping the human being as the central focus of all developmental activities.

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